Method of treating water for steam-boiler purposes.



W. G. STUGKEL.

METHOD OF TREATING WATER FOR ST EAM BOILER PURPOSES. APPLICATION mum MAY 10, 1912.

1,058,], 1 3, Patented Apr. 8, I913.

To all whom it may concern:

WILLIAM C. STUCKEL, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

METHOD OF TREATING WATER STEAM-301L133, BURPQSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, 1%13.

Application filed May 10, 1912. Serial No. 696,456.

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. S'rUoKaL,

"a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMethods of Treating 'Water for Steam-Boiler Purposes; and

I I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a method of treating the water used for steam boiler purposes so that the incrustation of boilers is prevented, and consists setting up in the water a galvanic action to rid the water of material that coats the boiler by taking away the attraction of the boiler for such substance. Among the sources of thegalvanic action which is destructive to steam boilers, surface condensers, heaters, tanks, etc., is the attraction of the surfaces aforesaid to the negative surfaces of copper or brass elements of the boiler system such as pipes, pumps, valves and other fixtures. In

the so-called surface condensers a large amount of brass and copper is usedtor chilling or condensing surfaces, from the action of which is evolved much thermal electricity which is an active agent in producing coppersalts, andthe same water being used over and over again, the copper is constantly taken up in solution and: carried in the form of salts into the boiler by the returning water. The water passing ofi from the boller in the shape of steam leaves all the salts in the boiler and the boiler attracts these salts to its sides and corrosion begins. Zinc for instance prevents corrosion, because it is attacked before iron, and has been used by placing it at rest in a boiler where the salts of copper exist in solution, but it soon becomes coated with metallic copper and itself establishes a galvanic current or action on such parts of the boiler as remain positive.

My system consists in sub'ecting the water to treatment, preferably be ore it enters the boiler, by placing particles or pieces of material in the water so that they will be agi-.

tated and tossed about to' cause their whole surfaces to act on the water. I 8

Another object of the agitation is to prevent the formation of any deposit on. thepieces by reason of their friction on each other, the attrition keeping the particles bri ht and clean so' -thatthey do not" have to e removed for cleaning purposes.

The invention is illustrated in the accorjii panylng drawing, in which the figure is a section of a device showing one formfof ap paratus for carrying out my method.

In the drawing 1s shown a casing 10 i which forms the body of the receptacle and 1s whlch it can be properly supported, although other means of supporting the casing can. be used. A fitting 13 is arranged on the top of the casing 10, the fitting. having two openings, one of which, 14, is an inlet opening which is connected to a pipe 16 which is adapted to conduct the water down to a widened or flaring bottom portion 17 which acts as a casing and terminates short of the bottom of the casing so as to provide a space 18 for the passage of water. Within the flaring end or base 17 is a bearing 19 in provided with a foot '12. by means of which slides the stem 20 of a valve 21, which I valve is adapted. to rest against the bottom of the casin through which the water passes so-as to act and thus act as a check-valve. The valve is supplied with openings 22:

on the bottom edge of the valve so that the water can force its way, through the space 18, and the water coming through under pressure acts on the particles or pieces 23 which are arran ed in 'thereceptacle. These pieces are 0 material suitable to act on the water and set up a galvanic action.

I prefer to use pieces of substantially rectan lar form so. that the abrasion and attrition will be more pronounced, but of course uneven pieces or round pieces can be The water entering at 14 comes from' a feed-water heater or injector or other suitable boilerfeeding means,-'and afterfit passes through the ipe 16'and engages the pieces 23 ofmateria the force of the feed water causes the material to rise and drew late with the water, and it is whirled around and agitated whereby a great deal of its surface can contact with the water. In

, addition to this, these pieces rub and conto be agitated by'the water.

tact with each other, this friction keeping the particles clean and bright. The attrition prevents the formation of any scale on these pieces, and their function, as positive or negative elements, is not interfered'with or limited.

It is evident that this is but one type of apparatus for carrying out the invention, since innumerable forms can be made for causing attrition and a rubbing between particles that are distributed by the current of water itself and need no outside agent to bring about the shaking up of the particles or pieces. I

The granular form of small cubes of zinc and copper, or zinc alone, or any combina- .on its entrance that it raises or lifts the particles and whirls them about, and whenever the feed-water is shut ofl, the particles settle down by gravity. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The improved method of treating Water for steam boiler purposes which consists in passing the water through a mass ofsepa rated particles confined in a receptacle to cause the mass to be agitated and subjected to attrition, the particles beingcornposed of material to set up a galvanic action in the Water.

2. The herein described method of treating water for steam boiler purposes which consists in passing the water through a mass containing granular zinc particles to cause the particles to be agitated and thereby subjected to attrition.

3. The herein described method of treating water. for steam boiler purposes which consists in passing the Water through a mass of zinc and copper particles to cause the particles to be agitated and thereby subjected to attrition.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing ,1 have hereunto set my hand this 2nd day of May, 1912.

WILLIAM C. STUCKEL. Witnesses:

WM. II. CAMrmLn, M. A. JoHNsoN. 

